Fig. 1

Aspects of the biology of water striders. a Adult Gerris sp on water and zoom in on the bristles allowing this adaptation using Scanning Electron Microscopy (insets). b G. buenoi rowing on the water surface, illustrating the adaptive locomotion mode. c Water strider jumping using its long legs to escape the strike of a surface hunting fish. d Hoarding behavior in water striders consisting of multiples individuals feeding on a cricket trapped by surface tension. e Wing polymorphism in G. buenoi, here illustrated by three distinct morphs with regard to wing size